Plant for molding spiral-corrugated cast-iron pipe



Aug. 18, 1925. 1,550,514

0.5. DIMICK PLANT FOR MOLDING SPIRAL CORRUGATED CAST IRON PIPE Filed March 25 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Hwy/#15:

Aug. 18, 1925. 1,550,514

D, B. DiMiGK PL'ANT FOR MOLDING SPIRAL CORRUGATED CAST mo PIPE Filed March 25. 1925 6 s t -sh t 2 @w a $2 1 y 01,, A; N7 7 Aug. 18, 1925.

D. B. DIMICK PLANT FOR HOLDING SPIRAL CORRUGATED CAST [RON PIPE Filed March 25. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet Aug. 1a, 1 25. 1,550,514

D. B. DlMlCK PLANT FOR MOLDING SPIRAL CORRUGATED CAST IRON PIPE Filed March 25. 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sand Bin & Conveyors Aug. 18, 1925. 1,550,514

[L B.|D|NH(:K

PLANT FOR MOLDING SPIRAL CORRUGATED CAST IRON PIPE Filed March 25. 1925 6 sheetysheet 5 T) l I I I 1 I 1 h L 1, V .1

O I Q I o 1 mnwo Aug. 18, 1925.

. D. B. DIMICK PLANT FOR MOLDING SPIRAL CORRUGATED CAST IRON PIPE Filed Match 25' 1925 Sheets-Sheet N II F 11 sane-sl Patented Aug. 18, 1925.

u -urreo STATES PATENT .QF-FRLC'E. v

nAnrnL 'BAlKEgt pnvrrcn, or BIItM INGHAM, ALABAMA.

I PLAN? FOR MOLDING SPIRAL-CORRUGATED GAST-IBQN lI-PE.

n liq fiie ma Mar as e2 s a n 2 9- T 0 all ,w [tom it may concern Be it known ,that I, DANIEL BAKER Dragon, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Birmingham, the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improve- ,ments in Plants for Molding Spiral-Corrugated Qast-Iron Pipe; and I do hereby declare the following tohea full,-. clear, 1 and exact description of the inventionl suohlas will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The present invention relatesto improvements plants for molding spiral corrugated cast ,iron .pipe and-is a division ,in part of any (gopending application, filed Novem- {ber 10,1924, Serial No."(' gl9,06.8 entitled Improvements in molding of spiral corrugated cast iron ,pipe.

The article manufactured in the plant forming the subject matter of this application .is set out more particularly in [myeopending application v,entitle'dCast .pipe and .jointltherefor, filed September 16, 1922, Serial No.588,650.

The object of the present invention is to provide for the .eificient foundry handling of the patterns and molds'and inso grouping units of the'mechanism as to economize on .fioor space in the gre' aary and uponthe number of operators' required to attend, a

given number of the aria-chines.

vXVith the Qforegoingfand other objects .in view, .the invention will be moregfully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out gin theicla ims appended hereto.

In the draw ngs, where n like symbols refer to like or correspqndmg parts throughout ,the several views,

Figure is a side elevfiou .with parts in section of-the lmprove .mac me. I

F gure 2 s a vert cal -sect1on taken through th ma hine shari #2 Pat and other parts in y a subsequent .position.

i r 3 i a t p spie iv e'w "of $1 machine. w i

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-51 in Figure 2 .with the arm 'swniig to- .ward the side.

Figure 5 a diagrammatic NEW showing .the grouping of maehines on the zf oundry lfloori Figure 6 is alongitudinal vertical section taken thmush a de ic fer .sil p ylns sen Figure 7 is a crosssection takenon the gline 7-f7 in Figure 6, and .1 l i 'Eigure .8 also a cross section taken on the line 8 8 in Figure 6.

sRefe rring for the present .to Figures l to A: inclusive -6 designates the cylindrical, hol

bolted or otherwise aifixed to the floor or foundation. Anti-friction bearings 141 are interposed beneatlrthe lower end of the post 8 to a'iford easyrotation as by thehand of the operator. Zlhe arm 7 forms a lever by which .the post and pattern may be swung.

,Figures 3' and 4: are comparative views showing the two positions of the arm.

YVhen the pattern is in the position over ;the.mold a.p1ug or gpin 1511 nay be inserted through the-pedestal and into a socket in the post .8 for holdingthe parts against acci dental rotation. A dust collar 16 is secured to the post just above the upper end of the pedestal to exclude foreignmatter from the bearings. i

The arm 7 is preferably counter balanced to aid in the,vertieal movement, as when the pattern is raised and lowered' For ,this

purpose a 117 is placed over the upper end of the post. From the cap extends a pair of forward arms 1.8, and a pair of .rear

jarms 1 9, t hearmseach carrying pulleys or rollers .20 and "Four .suchfpulleys are shown in Figure 3, the .front pulleys being inllineiw ith the rear pulleys so as to receive sthe two cables' 22 vand 2 3,coup1ed to the arm 7 and o" eye'lbolts sustaining theieounter wg g i A. i

The cables may be wrapped one or more illIIlQS about the pulleys. In practice it is found ibestlto simply have the cables play p and over the front pulleys andltolbe wrapped: once iaboutftlie rear pulleys. 'Ihe counter balance weights 25 may be added war reduced; Y

' i As shown in Figure 1 an endless hand cable or strap 26 extend sfdown froma wheel 27 mounted upon the shaft 28 upon the cap plate. This shaft carries a pinion 29 meshing with a gear wheel 30 on the rear pulley shaft 81. By drawing upon either run of the cable 26 the operator may aid the vertical movement of the pattern.

The outer end of the arm carries an integral or attached ring 82 adapted to receive the ring 33 of the coupling head 34:, belts or other fastenings 35 being employed to detach-ably hold the rings together. The drawing hard is provided with external. and internal spaced flanges 36 and 37 to receive theupper ring 88 of the pattern 6. Pins 39 passing through the flanges 36 and 37 and the ring 38 are used to suspend the pattern from the head. This arrangement provides for flexibility in the pattern 6 to enable the pattern to accommodate itself to the mold and to the cavity in screwing out of the mold.

As shown in Figure 1 the pattern 6 is adapted initially to fit down within the mold composed of the cheek at) and the core arbor 4-1. Both the cheek and arbor are pinned or otherwise affixed to the casting stool 42 as indicated respectively at 4L3 and a l. The mold parts are thus preserved in proper spaced relation and at the same time caused to turn with the casting stool 42. The casting stool 42 rests upon the turn table as to which it is secured as by the pins to.

The pattern 6, when in the mold as appears in Figure 1 fits substantially midway between the cheek and the core and a sandslinger is employed to throw sand upon both sides of the cylindrical pattern (3 making, in one molding operation a spiral, continuously cylindrical cavity 46 in the sand hav ing external and internal walls upon which the spiral corrugation is simultaneously formed, the corrugations upon the inner wall being in lead with those upon the outer wall.

The stripping plate is designated at l? and is made up in two half sections so that it may be put in place upon the upper end of the cheek l0 after the sand has been introduced. The interior wall of the stripping plate is corrugated to conform to the external corrugations of the pat-tern 6 and to lit the outer wall of the pattern snugly. This stripping plate is pinned or clamped to the upper end of the cheek. Figure 2 shows the pattern withdrawn leaving the spiral cavity in the mold and the stripping plate in place upon the top of the cheek.

The turn table at is mounted upon the shaft 48 having the upper tapered portion 4-9 fitting in the upper tapered bearing 50 provided with the removable cap plate or box 51. The lower portion of the shaft 1-8 fits within a cylindrical bearing 52 and upon anti-friction bearings in the base thereof while a dust collar is secured upon the shaft just above the lower cylindrical bearing 52. It is obvious that the turn table might be supported in any other manner appropriate to sustain the weight of the mold and other parts while permitting of free rotation thereof.

An internal gear 55 is made upon the lower portion of the turn table a l. A pin ion 56 meshes with the internal gear, the pinion being driven by the electric motor 57 through an appropriate reduction gear 58 having the high speed shaft 59 and the lower speed shaft 00. Any other motor might be used and appropriate control means is connected to the motor.

The apparatus might, for purposes of understanding the diagrammatic illustration in Figure 5, be divided up into two parts, one called the centering machine consisting of the rotatable post 8 and its supporting arm 7 by which the pattern 6 is brought to acorrect position with respect to the empty flask, and the second machine is the turning machine or turn table consisting of the assembly for supporting and imparting to the flask a rotary movement to effect removal of the pattern (3 from the sand cavity.

In Figure 5 the centering machines are designated C. M. and it will be seen that three of these centering machines are c1nployed located in triangular arrangement. Each centering machine serves two turn tables driven by the independent motors designated at M.

These turn tables are all located on the arc of acircle struck from a center where the sand-slinger is located so that the sand-sling er has a radius of activity covering all of the tables. One sand-slinger is therefore easily enabled to take care of the six flasks upon the turn tables. The sand bin and conveyors are also indicated in this diagrammatic view at the open side of the circle for supplying sand continuously to the sand-slinger.

While the sand-slinger is packing sand in a flask upon one turn table of each pair, the centering machine is engaged in placing a pattern in the empty flask of the companion turn table so that the operation is substantially a continuous one and three centering machines and a single sand-slingcr are enabled to take care of six turn tables.

After the flasks have been rammed and the patterns 6 removed, the flasks are withdrawn to the casting floor where the molten metal is poured in the spiral cavity.

In the use of the device a pattern 6 is coupled to the arm 7 and the column 8 is rotated until the pattern is centered above the empty flask upon one of the turn tables. The plug 15 is then inserted in order to prevent possible angular movement of the column 8 and the arm 7 is lowered until the pattern rests upon the casting stool.

The sand-shnger is then put into operalot lit

tion and sand is rammed .onto both sides of the pattern 6. Subsequently the turn table 44 is .caused \to rotate closing the circuit ofthe electric motor 57 and inasmuch as the pattern (Stis -held fast .againstrotation the stripping plate will .act as .a revolving nut tending to lift the pattern .outof the sand.

=.turntable and inserted :in-the flask and sand is rammed in this flask while the finished flask is removed tozthe casting floor and an empty flask substituted in its place. a The deviceand the assembly of these devices in the foundry are efiected with a view to simplicity in construction and a minimum number of the machines without sacrificing the capacity of the plant.

The arrangement shown in Figure -5 makes it possible to 0peratethe plant with considerably :less labor.

The spacemarked off in Figure 5 with the legend Sanchbin and conveyors is occu pied by the apparatusshown in Figures 6, 7 a

and .8. This apparatusis preferably contained ina concrete or other pit sunk below theifloor :level 171, a portion of the floor beingadaptedtoclose the-top portion of the pit. Ahopper 72 :is disposed in-the pitwith its .npperpart projecting above thefioor 71. "The upper open end .of the hopper into whichtliesandis thrown through the grating 73 will be arranged at ,only a small elevation from the floor 71 .to permit .of ease in throwing the sand into this hopper. 'The hopper directs the sand down to the horizontal aproncoiiveyor 74larranged to run over the end rollers 75 and 7 6 journaled in the frame 77 supported within the pit. At the delivery end of the conveyor and beneath the same is the boot 78 into which the sand is thrown from the conveyor 74. A second elevating conveyor. 79 is disposed with one end in the boot and provided with buckets 80 for scooping up the sand and carrying the same upwardly to the chute 81 which carries the sand to the hopper of the sand slinger.

As shown in Figure 7 the conveyors are both driven from the electric motor 82 through the reduction gear 83 and shaft 84: which may be the lower shaft of the elevating conveyor 79. The shaft Si is provided with a sprocket 85 engaged by a chain 86. This chain 86 also engages the. sprocket 87 on the counter shaft 88. This counter shaft is journaled in the frame 77 of the horizontal conveyor extending between the upper and lower runs of said conveyor. At the opposite end of this shaft 88 is the sprocket 89 switch.

connected by a chain 90 with a sprocket coupled to the wheel 7 6 of thehorizontal conveyor.

The entire mechanism connected with these conveyors and sand handlihgequip 7 ment and the entire mechanism of the sand slinger may be arranged for concerted operation by circuits extending in common to the several motors thereof, andwith for instance two push buttons located inthe-ihead ofthe sand shnger. One push button will start allihemotors and the other push button will stop the motors in accordance with a well known switch arrangement. Cons-e? quently the feeding of the sand and the B throwing of the sand into the mold isncarlied on automatically and concertedly without the use of manual labor withthe exception of an operator to open and close the 85 The entire mold is made in one operation and furthermore this plant arrangement permits of the rapid construction of the green sand mold, which, when completed, is ready to receive the molten iron without the use ,of any additional or auxiliary dry sand cores or dry sand auxiliaries or chills.

Throughout the improved arrangement, the

plant produces a finished green sand inold withoutithc use of man-power.

it is obvious that .various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from thespirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

'li hatis claimed is 1. An apparatus for casting pipe com-= prising. a centering machinehaving a swing- Iingand longitudinally 'nioving arm, and a spirally corrugated pattern carried fixedly in said arm, two turn tables located on the same are of movement with said arm of the centering machine, and a sand-slinger located on the same are of movement with the two turn tables.

2. An apparatus for casting pipe comprising a series of pairs of turn tables all located on the same circumference. a sandslinger centrally of said turn tables for serving all such turn tables, and centering machines for each pair of turn tables having a pattern supporting arm swinging alternately from one turn table to the other.

3. An apparatus for casting pipe comprising a sand-slinger located centrally, a source of supply located adjacent said sandslinger, a number of pairs of turn tables together with operating motors. said turn tables being all located in a circle about said sand-slinger as a center whereby the sand -slinger may serve all of the flasks upon the turn tables, and a centering machine for each pair of turn tables located outside said circle and having a pattern supporting arm swinging alternately between the two turn tables.

l. An apparatus for molding pipe comprising a centering machine having a swinging arm, a pattern carried detachably by said arm, a plurality of turn tables for holding the mold, said turn tables being located as respects their centers upon the arc of swinging movement of said arm of the centering machine, and sand-ramming means disposed centrally with respect to the turn tables and movable in an arc intersecting the centers of both said turn tables.

An apgaratus for molding pipe comprising a central station, a sand-slinger loe ted at the central portion of said station, means also at the central station for supplying sand to said sand-slinger, turn tables mounted in pairs about said central station and being all disposed on the same are of movement of said sand-slinger, and a centering machine for each pair of turn tables having an arm for supporting the pattern adapted to swing over either of the pair of turn tables.

6. A plant arrangement for the molding of spiral corrugated cast iron pipe comprising pairs of turn tables all arranged on the circumference of a. common circle and having independent means to rotate same, a centering machine for each pair of turn tables located between the turn tables and outside said circumference, each centering machine having a swinging arm for the pattern adapted to move back and forth above either of its respective pair of turn tables, a sand-slinging machine located at the center of said circumference and having a range of movement above all of said turn tables, and an apparatus adjacent the sandslingcr for continuously supplying sand thereto.

7. A plant arrangement for the molding of spiral corrugated cast iron pipe compris ing pairs of turn tables all arranged on the circumference of a common circle and having independent means to rotate same, a centering machine for each pair of turn tables located between the turn tables and outside said circumference, each centering nachiue having a swinging arm for the pattern adapted to move back and forth above either of its respective pair of turn tables, a sand-slinging machine located at the center of said CilCHHlfGlOHCG and having a range of movement above all of said turn tables, a comparatively low receiving device for the sand, and means to elevate said sand to the sand slinger.

S. A plant arrangement for the molding of spiral corrugated cast iron pipe compris ingpairs of turn tables all arranged on the circumference of a common circle and having independent means to rotate same, a centering machine for each pair of turn tables located between the turn tables and outside said circumference, each centering machine having a swinging arm for the pat tern adapted to move back and forth above either of its respective pair of turn tables, a sand-slinging machine located at the center of said circumference and having a range of movement above all of said turn tables, a hopper adjoining the sand-slinger with its receiving end closed to the casting floor, a conveyor beneath said hopper, a boot for receiving the sand from said conveyor, and an elevator adapted to operate through said boot for raising the sand to said sandslinger.

DANIEL BAKER DIMICK. 

